Glass Alliance Europe recently hosted a conference in Belgium to explore how the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal could drive competitiveness in the glass industry.

Representatives from the European glass industry, EU policymakers and other stakeholders gathered at the Thon Hotel EU in Brussels for the event.

The conference centred on the question: ‘How can the Clean Industrial Deal boost a competitive glass industry?’

The EU initiative aims to make decarbonisation a catalyst for industrial growth by reducing energy costs, fostering quality jobs, and creating favourable conditions for European businesses to succeed.

The conference discussed how European industrial policy can enable a greener and more competitive future for glass manufacturing.

Bertrand Cazes, Glass Alliance Europe’s Secretary General, said: “The glass industry is pivotal to Europe’s twin transition. Through its many uses and innovative applications, glass manufacturing creates the conditions of prosperity in the EU.

“It is important for this already environmentally-friendly sector to be supported by the Clean Industrial Deal to achieve its full potential in aiding our bloc’s competitiveness on the global stage.”

After a welcome by Thomas Davreux, Chairman of Glass Alliance Europe, keynote speeches were delivered by Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General of DG CLIMA of the European Commission, and Mariusz Biedrzycki from the Polish Permanent Representation to the EU.

The talks focused on how the initiative is shaping the industrial policy framework that promotes both green innovation and sustainable investment across Europe.

Two expert roundtable discussions followed.

The first, moderated by Financial Times’ EU Correspondent Alice Hancock, explored whether the Clean Industrial Deal could lift existing barriers to greener glass manufacturing.

The panellists included executives from Zignago Vetro (Dr Puri Purini), AGC Glass Europe (Dr Davide Cappellino) and MEP Elena Donazzan from the European Parliament and Mr Vandenberghe.

The second roundtable turned the spotlight on the enabling conditions necessary to drive investment in the glass sector.

Speakers from Arc International (Nicholas Hodler), Glass Fibre Europe (Cédric Janssens), IndustriAll (Maike Niggemann) and DG GROW Deputy Head of Unit Madalina Ivanica discussed policy tools, financial incentives, and industrial alliances as pathways to unlock sustainable growth.